USB flash drive: all the information

In this article we are going to explain the entire history of the USB flash drive. First, let's describe what a USB memory is: It is a portable device that consists of a Flash memory, in which we can store any type of file inside without deteriorating over time.

Index of contents

History of the pendrive or the USB memory

In 2000, the companies Trek Technogy and IBM were the first to launch the first USB memory. Each company released one separately. Trek Technogy Company released a USB memory stick called Thumbdrive and IBM Company released a model of USB memory stick called DiskOnKey.

The company in charge of designing and creating the first USB memory was M-Systems, an Israeli company that created a Pendrive with an amazing memory capacity of between 8, 16 and 32 Mb. Obviously, if we compare them with the capacity of today's flash memory… this was insignificant, but for the time, the launch of these portable devices was a revolution.

Thanks to the success of USB sticks, 3 ″ 1/2 floppy disks have gone down in history as a storage tool for both companies and home computers. Remember that a high-density floppy disk was 1.44 MB in size. What a time!

The first USB used batteries to operate, since they still did not use the computer itself as a power source to operate. Some time later this changed and already in our days, the Pendrive uses the same USB connector as a power source. It uses a maximum consumption of 2.5 watts, more than enough for any high speed transfer.

What is it called and what capacity are there?

In many parts of the world it is known by different names such as: "USB", since it connects to the USB port of the computer, " Flash memory ", since it consists of one and finally " Pendrive ", it is its most popular name.

We recommend reading the guide to the best SD and microSD memories on the market.

In the market you can find USB Pendrives of up to 256 GB, although soon we will find units of a Terabyte at a really attractive price . This portable device caused such an impact that it forgot about different tools with the same function such as: the aforementioned floppy disk, CD, DVD or Blu-Ray.

Evolution of the Pendrive until today

The Pendrives go hand in hand with the USB ports, that is to say, in the year 2000 the USB was updated to 2.0 just as the USB 2.0 was born, which had a speed up to 30MBITS per second. 20 times faster (USB 1.1 came out in 2000, months later it was updated).

In 2013, the USB port was updated to 3.0, an update that we use to this day as well as the current 3.1 pendrive. Logically, the data transfer rates are much better than its predecessors, having a transfer power of up to 5 GBITS per second.

Over time the storage capacity of the USB memory has multiplied in a surprising way; nowadays we can find USB sticks with a minimum capacity of 1 GB, and a maximum of 1 terabyte, this means that we can already store a total of 1, 024 gigabytes of information, such as music, videos, text files, among others, on a single device and of a very reduced size.

Currently, there is a strong debate about the future of these devices, as the digital age is increasingly innovative and presents ideal options for storage. Today, we can use the Cloud as a network storage system, that is, we can have a place to store all the information without the need to use a physical device.

Companies like Google, Apple, Dropbox, Qnap Cloud or OneDrive offer this service, with a large storage capacity on their servers for free or if you want to increase it, you only have to pay an additional cost on a monthly basis. Then we are assailed by doubt: What is better, using the cloud or a high-capacity flash drive?

The pendrive has the advantages that we have the physical support and it is not found on any external server for private use. In addition to being able to encrypt it with additional software and always keep it safe. While the cloud is very useful to access your information from any device and if you are a disaster and lose everything you have… be sure that the cloud will always be online.

Pendrive types

There really are many types of flash drives, but we are going to summarize the most conventional formats that we will find in online or physical stores in your city:

• Commercial pendrive : it is the typical pendrive that they give you at a convention or meeting. It is usually small in size and has low write / read rates. They really do little, just to save some documentation and music for your car. Pendrive low-end or special movie: it is usually the most purchased and at a gold price in stores. They have a performance similar to commercials or gifts and we can find it with figures from Star Wars, The Minions, Captain America, cars or Iron Man . High speed pendrive: These are the most interesting and I always recommend buying. Currently they have really good prices for their high read and write speeds (+80 MB / s). They last longer, have more guarantees and are all large: 32, 64, 128 and 256 GB of capacity. Pendrive with encryption: we have to differentiate between encryption by software and by hardware. The first is difficult to flank but the one that may be impossible is via hardware with 256 bit AES. As we already saw with the Kingston DataTraveler 2000. Special formats: There are special USB flash drives in OTG format for the iPhone and iPad product range. Their prices are usually quite high.

Recommended USB flash drive

I am going to put aside the commercial and low-end USB flash drives, and recommend the best USB flash drives on the market. As you will see many models are at a really cheap price and others will pay what they are really worth. Without further delay we make you our TOP of USB skewers:

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Kingston DataTraveler R3.0 G2 | Up to 64 GB | Maximum price: 31.46 euros

This new version of the DataTraveler series is ideal for daily use since we find it from 16 GB to 64GB . The read rates are 120 MB / s and a write from 25 to 45 MB / s (depending on model), that is, it improves the performance of a conventional pendrive 10 times and with a 5-year guarantee.

HyperX Fury USB 3.0 | Up to 64 GB | Maximum price: 30.52 euros

We analyzed the HyperX Fury a while ago and the result was great. We have them at a very affordable price and the performance is spectacular. Kingston promises us 90MB / s read and 30MB / s write, but our results gave us 157MB / s read and 80MB / s write.

HyperX Savage USB 3.0 | Up to 256 GB | Maximum price: 92 euros

The new top of the HyperX range and we have it at a really attractive Amazon price. Reading rates of 350 MB / s and writing of 180 MB / s, we recommend reading your review Savage USB. Metal body and one of the best chips on the market. If you can buy it, go ahead.

Sandisk Extreme USB 3.0 | Up to 64 GB | Maximum price: 69.99 euros

Here is one of our favorites and the pioneer in launching a pendrive with great read and write rates, specifically we have 245 MB / s and 190 MB / s respectively. We see it a bit expensive having the Savage, but in the few GB models it is at a price. It really likes it because we can hide the USB head with a button. Ideal for operating systems, transferring series, movies or large files.

Corsair Survivor USB 3.0 | Up to 256 GB | Maximum price: 115 euros

We have not been able to prove it but its design does not leave anyone indifferent. Shaped like a tube and designed to cushion any blow, it makes you a born survivor . It can be found in black or silver and has read rates of 70MB / s and write rates of 85MB / s make it an appetizing USB stick. Many of you know that Corsair has been one of the leaders in the memory sector for many years and they are a safe bet. Its price if it is somewhat high.

Sandisk iXpand Flash Drive | Up to 64 GB | Maximum price: 79.95 euros. (Special iPhone and iPad)

If it is that paying so much Apple and its special connections it does not come cheap . Proof of this is that there are few quality USB flash drives with an OTG connection. We find the Sandisk iXpand Flash Drive up to 64 GB for a price of 80 eurazos. Ideal for iPhone and iPad… its read rates of 130 MB / s and 150 MB / s.

Kingston DataTraveler microDuo 3C | Up to 64 GB | Maximum price: 21 euros (Special Android Smartphone and Windows Mobile 10).

We do not have a great variety of USB flash drives with Type-C connection and of the few that are saved is the Kingston DataTraveler microDuo 3C. Its read and write rates are 44 and 31 MB / s.

After reading you and learning a little more about USB sticks. How about? What do you use in your work or personal use? Your opinion matters to us. If you can share on social networks we will be grateful.